Modular ventilated protective helmet

ABSTRACT

An improved protective helmet, suitable for use in marine environments, is formed with a plurality of internal ventilation channels.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority from my provisional application Ser. No. 62/206,212 filed 2015 Aug. 23 (docket 873-043-101).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a protective helmet for use by a person traveling on board a watercraft such as a kayak, jetski, canoe, sailboat, or powerboat, or an aircraft operated in a marine environment and, more particularly, to a helmet having a hard outer shell with ventilation ports and a shock-absorbing liner secured therein.

BACKGROUND

Prior art protective helmets have incorporated padding or other liners within a hard outer shell. Such helmets generally are designed to comply with safety standards promulgated by standards organizations such as the ASTM, the ANSI, and/or the European Economic Community. However, many of these prior art helmets have lacked ventilation ports, have located the ports in the wrong locations, or have failed to permit the wearer of the helmet to adjust ventilation to match changing outdoor temperatures. In addition, some helmets have liners which approach the lower interior periphery of the hard outer shell, and therefore fail to adequately provide for attachment of accessory devices, such as size-adjusting straps, earpads, chinstraps, and communication devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the helmet of the present invention is formed with structures which promote adaptable flow-though ventilation and structures which facilitate attachment of useful and ergonomic accessory devices, depending in part upon the intended context of use of the helmet.

It is known that, in any confined space, warm air tends to rise to the top of that space and that, in order for such warm air to leave such a space, an inlet for replacement air must exist. Therefore, the present invention includes a pair of exhaust ports at the helmet top, aligned with corresponding apertures in the liner within, and a pair of corresponding inlet ports in a forehead-adjacent helmet region.

A first ventilation channel, formed in the helmet liner, connects a left inlet port to a left outlet port at the helmet crest, and a second ventilation channel, formed in the helmet liner, connects a right inlet port to a right outlet port at the helmet crest.

Along a lower inside periphery of the helmet, snaps are provided for attachment of straps, earpads, communications devices and similar modular accessories.

BRIEF FIGURE DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a top view, showing the exterior of a shell portion of the helmet, including a front portion at left and a rear portion at right;

FIG. 1B is a vertical cross-section, taken along the section line of FIG. 1A, with hatching showing a padded liner within the outer shell;

FIG. 2A is a front-right perspective view of a helmet liner, showing indented channels for flow of ventilating air;

FIGS. 2B and 2C are top and bottom views of the liner;

FIG. 2D is a longitudinal vertical cross-section along the section line of FIG. 2B, with an enlarged view of a channel formed through the shell to permit engagement of slidable tabs which are depending portions of a (preferably triangular) cover which is slidable along the outside of the helmet to open or close an air inlet port;

FIG. 2E is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view along the section line of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view, showing the liner mounted with the outer shell;

FIG. 4A is a schematic top view, showing the exterior of the shell and FIG. 4B is a sectional view along the section line of FIG. 4A, showing a liner-free lower periphery of the outer shell, formed with fasteners for attachment of accessory gear;

FIG. 5A is a top view of the liner, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view, taken along the section line of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is another top view of the liner, and FIG. 6B is a transverse sectional view along the section line of FIG. 6A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 13, the helmet of the present invention includes a generally rigid outer shell 100, preferably of polycarbonate plastic, and a resilient liner 200 of a suitable foam such as expanded polypropylene (EPP) or expanded polystyrene (EPS). The lower periphery of the liner is shorter than the lower periphery of the outer shell, in order to leave room for attachment of accessory devices such as straps, earpads, a chin strap and a head-size-adjusting band.

FIGS. 2A-2E show that liner 200 is formed with a number of apertures which permit warm air and moisture to dissipate from the head, and, on each of the left and right hemispheres, with a respective recess or channel extending from near a left air inlet port 102 or a right air inlet port 104 to air outlet ports, located at any suitable location adjacent the crest of the helmet.

FIG. 3 is an interior view of the helmet shell, showing a left slit 106 and a right slit 108, which serve as guideways for tabs 110 which depend from slidable covers for the air inlet ports. The wearer of the helmet can slide the ports closed if too much winter air is coming into the helmet, or slide open the ports if more ventilation is desired.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show that a lower peripheral region of the shell has space, on each side, for a front rivet 112, a central ear-adjacent snap 114, and a rear rivet 116. The front & rear rivets serve as attachment points for straps, and the left and right snaps 114 serve for attachment of earpads or communication devices, and/or as attachment points for a head-size adjusting band.

FIGS. 5A and 5B further illustrates suitable positions for apertures in the liner.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate suitable dimensions for the liner. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective helmet comprising a generally rigid outer shell, formed in a frontal portion with a plurality of air inlet ports and in a crest portion with a plurality of air outlet ports; a resilient liner having a shape conforming to an interior contour of said outer shell, and formed with channels which leave interstitial spaces between said liner and said shell for passage of air from said air inlet ports to said air outlet ports. 